Russell Group responds to limits on student numbers

02 June 2020

In response to today's guidance on student number controls, Dr. Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, said: 

“Universities worked with government to propose a series of measures to stabilise the sector during the Covid19 outbreak and protect our world class student experience. 

 “These measures included a sector wide agreement on student intakes put forward by universities themselves, so it is disappointing this has been taken forward as a broader student number control policy. Ultimately we would not expect any substantive enforcement of that voluntary agreement to be needed by either the DfE or the Office for Students. However, we do welcome the Government's commitment to ensuring there will be even more opportunity for students to study subjects such as chemistry and nursing this year.

 “The Russell Group will continue to work with government to release further investment that will protect the high-level skills, research and innovation nurtured by universities that is crucial to unleashing Britain’s potential and should be at the heart of our country’s economic renewal.”

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